Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

A cold smile crept across Samay's face. After a moment of thought, he closed his eyes and murmured to himself.

"If the spell is still running, then it proves that she is most likely still alive..."

"Who?"

"The true founder of the Einzbern family, the legendary Third Magician."

The ancient snake picked up its wine cup, downed the fiery liquor in one gulp, and a dark glint appeared in its eyes.

In fact, this is precisely why he suspects that Pandora did not die in the Battle of Ainsworth, but is still hiding in some corner, secretly plotting everything.

"A mage? No wonder..."

Aozaki Touko seemed to be deep in thought, then frowned slightly.

"That would be troublesome."

Samael remained silent for a moment, his gaze wandering, and he murmured softly.

"If there are other suitable vessels for the Lesser Grail..."

"So, this is why you brought her here?"

Following Samael's gaze, Aozaki Touko's eyes fixed on the backyard. Suddenly realizing what was happening, her hand, which had been swirling her wine glass, froze slightly, and a hint of mockery appeared on her face.

"You're a real scumbag, teacher..."

"I have never claimed to be a moral exemplar."

Samael looked up to meet Aozaki Touko's disdainful gaze and answered frankly.

Yes, he brought Chloe here with no good intentions.

I've said it before: don't place cheap trust or excessive expectations on others, and the same applies to him.

Even if that child, brought back to life from the brink of death, yearns for love...

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. Although it has good potential, it's at best a polymer residue, and it's mixed with too many impurities. It's far from being a truly perfect prototype."

Aozaki Touko gazed at the short figure hopping back and forth like a rabbit between the yard and the steps, shook her head slightly, extinguished Samael's hope, and then delivered the final blow.

"Besides, even if you bring the real prototype, it won't solve the problem upstairs. The Einberlen family has been researching artificial humans for thousands of years, and only this one finished product has emerged. She is an exception, understand?"

Samael fell silent, speechless.

That's right. Whether in the history of artificial life or in the research of the Einzbern family, Irisviel is a unique existence. She is one of the few artificial humans in thousands of years who has been intelligent since birth.

This result is full of coincidences and uncertainties, and cannot be replicated at all.

Otherwise, the Einzbern family would have mass-produced such an excellent prototype long ago.

That lake of mercury, formed from the decomposition of countless failed products, is the best evidence.

Looking at the man before her, racking his brains to save the saintess of the Einberen family, even revealing his dark side without any hesitation, a sense of irritation arose in Aozaki Touko's heart, and the Grand Puppeteer couldn't help but let out a muffled snort.

"She's very important to you?"

But as soon as the words left her mouth, Aozaki Touko couldn't help but regret them.

What's wrong with me today? I've never been so irrational before.

In fact, if Aozaki Touko were to ask herself honestly, she would probably understand that this emotion is called "jealousy".

Samael thought for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile.

"I just feel that she shouldn't have died like this."

"Don't worry, now that I've taken this job, I will do my best to ensure the safety of my clients."

Aozaki Touko calmed her chaotic emotions slightly and, with great professionalism, made her promise.

"With you saying that, of course I'm relieved!"

Samael smiled in response, his gloomy mood vanishing instantly.

However, seeing the man's beaming face, Aozaki Touko's mood worsened, and she snorted and waved coldly.

"Don't be too happy yet. According to the rules, let's settle the initial treatment fees first, which total 2300 million."

"JPY?"

"Dollars!"

"You robbed!"

Samael's face twitched when he heard the outrageous price, and he couldn't help but accuse the unscrupulous merchant in front of him.

Aozaki Touko glanced at Samael, who had stood up excitedly opposite her, and a cold smile crept onto her face.

"It's not like you're paying, why are you getting so worked up? Isn't she the saintess of the Einberlen family? Just notify her family and have them come over to settle the bill, isn't that enough?"

"Ahem, well, there was a little mishap..."

Samael coughed repeatedly, his gaze unfocused.

"could not be reached?"

"Yeah!"

"Then you pay for it."

"..."

Looking at the pale fingers that were rudely thrust in front of him, and the hint of mockery in those orange-red eyes, Samael's face stiffened slightly, and his heart clenched.

So it turns out you knew everything all along, and you were just setting a trap for me, weren't you?

Orange, you've gone astray.

Unmoved by her resentful gaze, Aozaki Touko calculated the result in a serious manner and continued to collect the debt.

"Considering these gifts, I'll give you a 10% discount, rounded down to 20 million. Cash or card?"

Samael, remembering his empty wallet and the piles of bills at Kotomine Church, paused for a moment, then slowly raised his hand and cautiously asked.

"Um, how about paying with your body?"

"roll!"

Upon hearing this, Aozaki Touko's eyes met the faint smile deep within Samael's eyes, and her face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. She kicked the bastard away.

However, even after banishing Samael from her sight, the absurd scenes of that all-nighter involuntarily surfaced in Aozaki Touko's mind, and the lingering pleasure etched into her body was awakened.

As we all know, demons often possess the characteristic of tempting people to fall.

Similarly, engaging in "deals" with them can gradually lead one to become deeply entangled and unable to extricate oneself.

In layman's terms, it's addictive...

As the Grand Doll Maker's mind raced, a series of alluring thoughts arose, her pretty face gradually flushing red, and a forbidden urge to savor the sweetness of life stirred within her.

Sexual repayment? It doesn't seem like it's entirely out of the question...

Aozaki Touko gently bit her cherry lips with her pearly teeth, and her eyes gradually welled up with tears.

No way! We absolutely cannot let this guy look down on us!

But then, this resolute Grand Doll Maker shook his head angrily, dispelling the distracting thoughts in his mind, and stormed upstairs.

Samael, who was chased to the entrance of the building and almost bumped into Aozaki Touko, was confused and bewildered.

"Uh, what are you doing?"

"Take a shower! Go to sleep!"

Aozaki Touko gave a curt reply, then, with a tense expression, rushed into the master bedroom, into the bathroom, and turned on the shower.

In the rush, the door was left unlocked, leaving a crack.

A cool breeze blew through the window. Samael, standing at the entrance of the building, shivered and rubbed his hands together. He looked in the direction of the clear sound of water and his gaze fell on the frosted glass, which was completely dry. He couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Why is the water cold in this weather?

Chapter 225 Saber, you don't want Alice to be left without anyone to take care of her, do you? (5k)

"boom!"

As night deepened, Samael, having finished his visit, was quickly thrown out the door by Aozaki Touko, who was wrapped in a bath towel and looked at him with displeasure.

A cold wind blew by, and the ancient serpent stared at the tightly closed door, somewhat bewildered. He really didn't know what had gotten into this Grand Puppeteer this time.

Ah, women...

Samael muttered something under his breath, then shook his head, turned around, and prepared to return to the Tohsaka residence.

As for Chloe...

In order to provide as much material and ideas as possible for Aozaki Touko's research and treatment, this little girl, who was also an Einzbern homunculus, was naturally kept behind as well.

Of course, just in case, Samael also transferred a portion of control of the human blood seal to Aozaki Touko.

"Are you leaving? I'll see you off..."

Just as the ancient serpent descended the steps, the door behind it creaked open, and Artoria, dressed in a trendy new outfit, spoke thoughtfully.

Samael glanced at the private car parked in the shadows outside the alley, then turned and smiled at the Knight King behind him, nodding without changing his expression.

"Alright. Together?"

Artoria nodded in response and started to catch up, unaware of someone's subtle actions.

The two remained silent the entire way. The knight king, who was following behind, moved his lips several times, but hesitated to speak. The heavy atmosphere between them grew thick and thick.

After walking for nearly half the distance, Samael noticed Artoria's conflicted thoughts, stopped, and helplessly turned back to remind her.

"Just ask me whatever you want, otherwise I'll be home soon."

Finally, with Samael taking the initiative to speak, the Knight King breathed a sigh of relief. After a moment of silence, he looked at his "enemy" with a mixture of trepidation and seriousness, pondering deeply.

"Alice said, only you know... about my past..."

"Alright, since you want to know, I might as well tell you."

Samael sighed upon hearing this, knowing that the day of open communication was inevitable. So he decided to stop hiding it, looked up at the ancient starry sky, and his gaze gradually became somewhat unfocused.

"However, that's a very long story..."

The ancient serpent traces its distant memories, recounting its past in detail.

The battle between the Red Dragon and the White Dragon… The Sacred Round Table Realm… The Four Great Calamities Descend… The Moment of Star Birth… The Eternal Millennium Kingdom…

An epic saga unfolded in Artoria's mind, and amidst the intense shock and familiarity, the vague memories hidden in the mist were gradually pieced together.

She remembered that she was not the king of Camelot, but the embodiment of calamity, a tyrant who should have brought eternal peace to that land.

Rebuilding the homeland? Relief for the people?

ridiculous!

In the end, I was the one who was just a fleeting illusion! All my efforts and sacrifices seemed so absurd.

And the hatred she felt for the man before her was just as ridiculous.

"what is this?"

Artoria was lost. The beautiful dreams and obsessions she had woven in her mind collapsed, leaving only endless illusions and resentment.

"It's all meaningless, it's all worthless!"

"Are you so quick to deny yourself? If you feel like you have no will to live, I wouldn't mind helping you find relief, considering we've known each other for a while."

Samael glanced at the false king who was gathering his emotions and denouncing fate, the outline of the Holy Lance appearing in his hand, and he actually began to mutter about the distribution of Artoria's inheritance.

"But let's make this clear first, my appearance fee is very high. As compensation, Alice and your dog will be mine."

"It has a name: Kavas II!"

Upon hearing this, Artoria immediately suppressed her dejection, her previous blank and bewildered expression vanished, and she indignantly defended her beloved dog.

"Oh……"

The ancient snake nodded indifferently, quite perfunctorily, but a moment later its eyes flashed, and a hint of interest appeared in its eyes.

"So, is it tasty?"

Such a surreal conversation caught the furious Artoria off guard, leaving her standing there dumbfounded, staring blankly at Samael.